Teaching the wrong values

The National Textbook and Curriculum Board got it wrong -- again. A class 8 home science textbook is telling girls to “dress decently,” to avoid sexual harassment, along with advice such as never going out with anyone, or ever staying home alone. It is highly disappointing to see our textbooks fall back on this retrograde and sexist way of thinking -- shifting the blame of sexual harassment and abuse on to girls and women. Even more horrifying is the suggestion that girls should avoid protesting catcalling, eve-teasing, and “bad touches.” At a time when rape and sexual harassment is rampant, when women are already afraid to report abuse to law enforcement, telling young girls to refrain from talking about these things only makes the problem a whole lot worse. And telling school-going girls that harassment or abuse is any way their own fault is sending a disastrous message, one that threatens to undo the progress we have made in women’s rights. We still have archaic laws which allow a victim’s “character” to be questioned in court when she reports a crime -- these laws need to be reversed. To do that, it is of utmost important that proper education about what constitutes abuse and harassment be given at the school stage, so that girls are aware of their rights. The textbook board should be held to account for disseminating these terrible messages in schools. More competent and enlightened writers -- writers who can send a message of gender equality -- should be hired for these jobs. It needs to be made clear to both boys and girls that sexual abuse is never, ever the victim’s fault.